STREAM: John Roberts - Hesitate
That John Roberts is the first American to have his music released by Hamburg-based Dial Records is a telling sign of the quality of his work. Indeed, his debut release, "Hesitant," simultaneously defies and lives up its name with unusual and surprisingly cohesive sounds that roughly resemble deep-house. You can hear the influence of his pal Eliot Lipp in the disjointed title track, which staggers its way through disparate percussion slates before finding the swing to win over dancers. "Promise" is slower and even more finely filigreed, ribbed with chilly piano runs, separated by sharp claps and falling into a shuffling house groove. By contrast, "Sweat Me" is simply chilled out, floating by on a bed of organ and clammy piano chords. Although he's since relocated to Berlin, Roberts' debut does his homeland proud and reminds Europe that some young Americans still have it.
Sounds Like: Theo Parrish, Eliot Lipp, Henrik Schwarz
Stream: John Roberts - Hesitate
